Ghiyath ad-Din Mas'ud
Encyclopedia
Ghiyath ad-Din Mas'ud was the Seljuq Sultan of Iraq
and western Persia in 1133-1152.
He was the son of sultan Mehmed I of Great Seljuq. At the age of twelve (1120–1121), he rebelled unsuccessfully against his elder brother, Mahmud II, who however forgave him. At Mahmud's death in 1131, the power was contended between Mahmud's son, Dawud, Mas'ud, whose powerbase was in Iraq, Seljuq-Shah (in Fars and Khuzistan) and Toghrul II. In 1133 Mas'ud was able to obtain recognition as sultan from the emirs of Baghdad
, and to receive the investiture by caliph al-Mustarshid
. Toghrul, who controlling the eastern provinces of the western Seljuq, launched a military campaign but was defeated by Mas'ud in May 1133. Toghrul died in 1134. Also in 1133 Mas'ud supported Zengi
, besieged by al-Mustarshid's troops in Mosul
.
In 1135 caliph al-Mustarshid contested his authority but, on 14 June of that year, he was defeated and made prisoner at Daimarg, between Hamadan
and Baghdad, and killed two months later by the Hashshashins. As al-Mustarshid's successor, al-Rashid, also rebelled with the support of Zengi, Mas'ud besieged him in Baghdad, forcing him to flee to Mosul, where he was also killed by the Hashshashins. Although able to ensure control over Iraq, Mas'ud's power over the rest of the Suljuq empire was uncertain: apart from Khorasan
and Transoxiana
, which had been long time under the control of his uncle Ahmed Sanjar
, Dawud kept control over Azerbaijan for several years, while weastern Persia was effectively ruled by emir Bozaba until Mas'ud defeated him, together with other emirs, in 1147. In 1148 Mas'ud faced another coalition against him, this time aiming to place Malik Shah on the throne in his place.
During his troublesome reign, Mas'ud was forced to accept to delegate his authority to numerous emirs with the Iqta'
, a tax institution which reduced the imperial incomes. Other became effectively independent sultans, such as Zengi
. This caused, according to historian ibn al-Athir, the beginning of the steep decline of the Seljuq Empire.
Mas'ud died at Hamadan
in 1152. He was briefly succeeded by Malik Shah, who had been forgiven by Mas'ud, and also given one the sultan's daughters as spouse.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and western Persia in 1133-1152.
He was the son of sultan Mehmed I of Great Seljuq. At the age of twelve (1120–1121), he rebelled unsuccessfully against his elder brother, Mahmud II, who however forgave him. At Mahmud's death in 1131, the power was contended between Mahmud's son, Dawud, Mas'ud, whose powerbase was in Iraq, Seljuq-Shah (in Fars and Khuzistan) and Toghrul II. In 1133 Mas'ud was able to obtain recognition as sultan from the emirs of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, and to receive the investiture by caliph al-Mustarshid
Al-Mustarshid
Al-Mustarshid was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 1118 to 1135.Son of the preceding Caliph, he achieved more independence as a ruler while the Seljuq sultan Mahmud II was engaged in war in the East....
. Toghrul, who controlling the eastern provinces of the western Seljuq, launched a military campaign but was defeated by Mas'ud in May 1133. Toghrul died in 1134. Also in 1133 Mas'ud supported Zengi
Zengi
Imad ad-Din Zengi was the atabeg of Mosul, Aleppo, Hama and Edessa and founder of the Zengid dynasty, to which he gave his name.-Early life:...
, besieged by al-Mustarshid's troops in Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
.
In 1135 caliph al-Mustarshid contested his authority but, on 14 June of that year, he was defeated and made prisoner at Daimarg, between Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
and Baghdad, and killed two months later by the Hashshashins. As al-Mustarshid's successor, al-Rashid, also rebelled with the support of Zengi, Mas'ud besieged him in Baghdad, forcing him to flee to Mosul, where he was also killed by the Hashshashins. Although able to ensure control over Iraq, Mas'ud's power over the rest of the Suljuq empire was uncertain: apart from Khorasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
and Transoxiana
Transoxiana
Transoxiana is the ancient name used for the portion of Central Asia corresponding approximately with modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, southern Kyrgystan and southwest Kazakhstan. Geographically, it is the region between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers...
, which had been long time under the control of his uncle Ahmed Sanjar
Ahmed Sanjar
Ahmad Sanjar Ahmad Sanjar Ahmad Sanjar (Mu'iz ud-Dīn Ahmad-e Sanjar; was the sultan of the Great Seljuq Empire from 1118 to 1153. He was initially the sultan of Khorasan until he gained the rest of the territory upon the death of Muhammad I....
, Dawud kept control over Azerbaijan for several years, while weastern Persia was effectively ruled by emir Bozaba until Mas'ud defeated him, together with other emirs, in 1147. In 1148 Mas'ud faced another coalition against him, this time aiming to place Malik Shah on the throne in his place.
During his troublesome reign, Mas'ud was forced to accept to delegate his authority to numerous emirs with the Iqta'
Iqta'
Iqta‘ was an islamic practice of tax farming that became common in Muslim Asia during the Buyid dynasty. The prominent Orientalist Claude Cahen described the Iqta‘ as follows:...
, a tax institution which reduced the imperial incomes. Other became effectively independent sultans, such as Zengi
Zengi
Imad ad-Din Zengi was the atabeg of Mosul, Aleppo, Hama and Edessa and founder of the Zengid dynasty, to which he gave his name.-Early life:...
. This caused, according to historian ibn al-Athir, the beginning of the steep decline of the Seljuq Empire.
Mas'ud died at Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
in 1152. He was briefly succeeded by Malik Shah, who had been forgiven by Mas'ud, and also given one the sultan's daughters as spouse.